Rhinoceros viper
| Rhinoceros viper | ||||||||||||
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Rhinoceros viper ( Bitis nasicornis ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Bitis nasicornis | ||||||||||||
| ( Shaw , 1792) |
The rhinoceros viper ( Bitis nasicornis ) is a true viper (Viperinae) and belongs to the family of vipers (Viperidae).
features
The rhinoceros viper has a stocky build, the total length is 90 to 120 cm. The head, which is triangular when viewed from above, stands out clearly from the neck. The pupils are slit vertically when exposed to light. The tip of the snout has two to three paired horns, which are represented by raised horn scales. The tail is short. The body color is variable. The back is drawn with brown, yellow, white, blue, red, green and black patterns of various shapes (e.g. rhombuses, cuboids, triangles). The dark speckled ventral side has a gray-green basic color. The following pholidotic features can be seen: 15 to 19 shields of the upper lip ( scutum supralabiale ), which are separated from the eye by 4 to 5 rows of scales, 19 to 20 shields of the lower lip ( scutum sublabiale ), of which the first four to six shields are connected to the anterior chin shield standing, strongly keeled body scales, which surround the middle of the body in 35 to 41 rows, 117 to 137 abdominal shields ( scutum ventrale ) and 16 to 32 under tail shields ( scutum subcaudale ) and an undivided anal shield ( scutum anale ).
The poison apparatus is typical for all representatives of the Viperidae. Venomous glands on the side of the skull, which are represented in evolutionary terms by transformed salivary glands, are connected to the venomous or fangs in the anterior upper jaw. These are tubular and enable the poisonous secretion to be injected like through the cannula of a syringe. When the mouth is closed they are folded in, when biting they are erected (solenoglyph tooth position).
toxicology
The toxinology of the poison secretion of the rhinoceros viper has been little researched. It can be assumed that the toxin mixture contains substances that have an influence on hemostasis . After a bite in humans, non-specific general symptoms (e.g. headache , nausea , vomiting , abdominal pain , diarrhea , dizziness , shock , cramps ) can occur. Pain , swelling, edema and necrosis can occur locally . A poison bite causes hemorrhages with sometimes severe blood loss. A disturbance of the electrolyte balance can lead to cardiac arrhythmias , among other things . Death can occur from asystole in hypovolemic shock .
The Pressure / Immobilization Technique should not be used as this leads to a much stronger local toxic effect. There are several effective antivenins available for the treatment of intoxication, for example Polyvalent Snake Antivenom (National Antivenom and Vaccine Production Center, Saudi Arabia), Antivipmyn Africa (Instituto Bioclon, Mexico) or SAIMR Polyvalent Antivenom (South African Vaccine Producers (Pty) Ltd , South Africa). Furthermore, the therapy is largely symptomatic.
Way of life
Bitis nasicornis leads a largely nocturnal lifestyle. It lives mainly on the ground, but occasionally also climbs in the branches of bushes and trees. In general, the snake is relatively sluggish and true to location. The rhinoceros viper is a hide hunter ; the range of prey primarily includes smaller mammals . Reproduction takes place through ovoviviparia . Between February and April a female can give birth to 20 to 40 young snakes, which are 19 to 26 cm in length.
distribution
The distribution area extends over South Sudan , western Kenya , Uganda , Angola , Democratic Republic of the Congo (western, central and eastern), Republic of the Congo , Gabon , Cameroon , Equatorial Guinea , Nigeria , Benin , Togo , Ghana , Ivory Coast , Liberia , Sierra Leone , Guinea , Central African Republic , Tanzania and Zambia . There are inhabited areas up to 2700 m above sea level. Bitis nasicornis inhabits humid biotopes within humid tropical forest areas, seasonally flooded swamp forests and the banks of rivers.
swell
- Ludwig Trutnau: poisonous snakes . Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart, 1998. ISBN 3-8001-7371-9 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b WCH Clinical Toxinology Resources: Bitis nasicornis , accessed September 8, 2015.
- ↑ Bitis nasicornis in The Reptile Database ; accessed on September 8, 2015.
